“Tanungin n'yo yung sarili ninyo kung totoo bang quality time yung mayroon po kayo sa mga anak ninyo (Ask yourselves if the time you have with your children is truly quality time).”

Indeed, regret strikes you in the end, as expressed by the father of a 15-year-old girl who had been missing for days and was later found dead in a private compound in Pasig City.

As the story unfolded, authorities found no foul play in the death of Isabelle Sophia Tablate, who went missing on March 18 and was later found hanging from a tree inside the private compound in Barangay Santolan on March 23.

During a press conference at the Pasig City Police Station Headquarters on Thursday, March 26, JR Tablate urged other parents to ask themselves if they are really spending quality time and not just simply spending time with their children.

“Sa mga kapwa ko magulang, kung tingin ninyo po nag s-spend time, quality time po kayo sa mga anak ninyo. Sana po maging honest tayo sa sarili natin at tanungin natin: nag s-spend time po ba talaga tayo? (To my fellow parents: if you think you are spending time with your children, are you really giving them quality time? Let us be honest with ourselves and ask: are we truly spending time with them?),” the father said.

He seemed to believe he had been giving Sophia quality time, saying he had been taking care of her from when she was three months old and stayed with her at bedtime as she grew up until she turned 14—but he later questioned whether it had truly been quality time.

“Kaya gusto ko po sana tanungin n'yo yung sarili ninyo kung totoo bang quality time yung meron po kayo sa mga anak ninyo (That is why I would like to ask you to reflect on whether the time you spend with your children is truly quality time),” he said.

Authorities clarified that there was no foul play in the incident following their discovery of Sophia's body while hanging from a tree with a nylon cord around her neck, saying evidence suggests the victim took her own life.

Based on the investigation and collected CCTV footage, Sophia was first seen heading toward SM Marikina and was last spotted near LRT Santolan Station. Authorities confirmed that the nylon cord found with her was the same item she had purchased from a store in the mall.

The father also said his daughter may have taken her own life due to possible depression and what he described as their shortcomings as parents.

“Yung obvious po na problema sa bahay, wala po. Dalawa lang po ‘yun. It's either hindi ko nakikita, or magaling po magtago yung anak ko (There were no obvious problems at home. It could be one of two things: either I did not see them, or my child was good at hiding them).”

He also shared on Facebook his grief and regret, saying, "I feel deep regret and wish I had more time with my love. I miss you Love, more than words can say and I will long for you every day for the rest of my life. Daddy is so sorry for failing you, I will carry that pain with me always."

Sophia also left letters for her classmates and friends, which they allegedly found in their own bags when they arrived home.

Some of the letters contained messages of farewell and apology, stating that she was already tired.

Pasig CPS chief Col. Hendrix Mangaldan said Sophia’s friends told authorities that she did not mention any problems, aside from the farewell messages written in the letters.

Mangaldan also reminded the public to be vigilant about their loved ones’ mental health and urged anyone who knows someone struggling to offer help, saying the local government and mental health agencies are available to provide proper care for those in need.